Nigeria Rated Third Most Terrorised Country In The World

Nigeria has been rated the third most terrorised country in the world,according to the 2018 Global Terrorism Index.

The report, which was released on Wednesday, ranked Africa’s most populous nation only below Iraq and Afghanistan, both in first and second positions respectively.

It blamed the spate of terrorism in Nigeria and the “increase in violence involving Fulani extremists even as deaths committed by Boko Haram are falling”.

The report, however, noted that when compared to the peak of “terrorist deaths” in 2014, “the largest falls in the number of deaths occurred in Iraq, Nigeria, and Pakistan, with falls of 6,466, 5,950, and 912 deaths respectively”.

“Boko Haram, once the world’s deadliest terror group, has experienced a significant decline since its peak in 2014. However, the group remains the most active terrorist organisation in Nigeria and until 2017 was the deadliest terror group in sub-Saharan Africa,” the report said.

“Nigeria’s counterterrorism response in combatting Boko Haram has been interrupted by the emergence of other extremist groups, most notably the Fulani herder extremists.

“The Fulani herder extremists have attacked civilians and military forces in the country. However, the sizeable drop in deaths and terror incidents since 2014 indicate the success of Nigeria’s Civilian Join Task Force and international coalitions.

“Alongside its counterinsurgency plan, the Nigerian government also struggles with negotiations and reintegration efforts regarding its long-term strategy to deal with Boko Haram and its associates.”